Hong Kim Suon, lawyer of recently released suspect Sok Samoeun, who is facing an appeals hearing in coming months with a second suspect, Born Samnang.

One of the men released in the murder case of Chea Vichea on Monday called for Cambodian authorities to conduct thorough investigations before arresting the “innocent.”

“In prison it’s not easy,” Sok Samoeun, who is awaiting an Appeals Court hearing on murder charges against him, said on “Hello VOA.” “It’s something that has more suffering than I can say.”

Sok Samoeun stands accused, along with Born Samnang, of the murder of union leader Chea Vichea, in January 2004, but both men are widely considered innocent.

They each face 20-year prison sentences, but were released earlier this month when the Supreme Court ordered the Appeals Court to rehear their case.

Since his release, Sok Samoeun has entered a pagoda as a monk.

His lawyer, Hong Kim Suon, said Monday the police should conduct a credible investigation into the killing.

“If they can’t find the real killer in the future, they can’t put my client back in jail for an exchange,” he said.